Recipes and Valentine Day with the Melting Fondue Pot
Valentine Day with the Melting Fondue Pot  |
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fondue
Ingredients: 12 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped ¼ cup heavy cream 3 tablespoons raspberry liqueur Instructions: Combine the dark chocolate and cream in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water. Heat until the chocolate is melted, stirring constantly; or combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring every 30 to 45 seconds. Be careful not to let the chocolate burn. Pour into a warm fondue pot. Drizzle with the liqueur. Keep fondue warm over low heat. Serves four to six. |
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| Love Martini Ingredients: • 1 strawberry • 1 ½ ounces coconut-flavored rum • 1 ounce peach schnapps • 2 ounces cranberry juice Instructions: Remove the stem from the strawberry. Slice the strawberry and cut a small “v” in the top of each slice to create a heart shape. Place several ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and add the rum, schnapps and cranberry juice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled martin glass and garnish with the strawberry slices. |
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| Yin & Yang Chocolate Fondue Ingredients: 4 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped. 4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped. Instructions: Melt the dark chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, stirring constantly; or place the dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring every 30 to 45 seconds. Be careful not to let the chocolate burn. Repeat the procedure with the white chocolate. Pour both chocolates simultaneously into a warm fondue pot. Rotate the pot one-quarter turn to produce the yin and yang effect. Garnish the white chocolate with a piece of dark chocolate and the dark chocolate with a piece of white chocolate. Keep fondue warm over low heat. Serves 4 to 6. |
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| Chocolate Fontini Ingredients: • ½ ounce chocolate syrup • 1 ounce chocolate liqueur • ½ ounce Kahlua • ½ ounce Irish cream liqueur • ½ ounce blackberry syrup • Splash of heavy cream or half-and-half Instructions: Chill a martini glass. Drizzle the chocolate syrup inside the glass. Combine the chocolate liqueur, Kahlua, Irish cream liqueur, blackberry syrup and cream in a small pitcher and mix well. Pour into the prepared glass. Cooking Tips Chocolate Fondue Cooking Tips • The easiest way to cook fondue at home is to start it on the stove using a double boiler and then serve it in a warm fondue pot. • Keep dessert fondues warm at a low temperature – about 120 degrees. • Great dippers for chocolate fondue include fresh fruit like strawberries and bananas, Rice Krispies Treats®, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies. • The strong, bitter flavor of dark chocolate fondue provides a unique contrast when paired with sweet dippers such as pineapple and marshmallows. If your chocolate fondue comes out too bitter, stir in a little confectioners’ sugar until it reaches the desired level of sweetness. • Milk chocolate melts fairly evenly and its milder taste makes it a great base for mixing with sweet liquors and other additives, such as peanut butter or marshmallow creme. Of course, milk chocolate is also just as delicious in its purest form – with nothing added! • White chocolate has the same consistency as milk chocolate, but has a less intense flavor, which allows white chocolate fondue to take on more of the flavors of liqueurs, nuts, or any other mix-ins. |
Tips for Selecting a Fondue Pot:
• A ceramic or earthenware fondue pot is usually preferred for making cheese and chocolate fondues at home but a pot made of stainless steel is the ideal choice for preparing entree fondues.
• It’s best to choose a metal pot that comes with a ceramic insert for preparing cheese and chocolate fondues so that you can use the same pot for entree, cheese and chocolate fondues.
• Ceramic pots should be heated with a low flame. Fondue sets usually come with a burning apparatus, but, in a pinch, a tea light or small candle will usually do the trick.
• There are two types of metal fondue pots: electric or the old-fashioned open-flame variety. Electric pots allow you to easily control temperature. Today's open-flame pots have new types of fuels, such as gels, that are easy to use as well.
Not only is fondue an intimate romantic meal to share on Valentine’s Day but February is National Fondue Month and National Chocolate Fondue Day is celebrated on Feb. 5. meltingpot.com
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